1Then: Aarón Sánchez
Patrick McMullan//Getty ImagesAfter studying culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, Aarón spent the late '90s and '00s navigating the restaurant industry all over the country. He made his Food Network debut on an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay in 2007. From there, he went on to Chopped, Chopped Jr., Iron Chef America, and more.
2Now: Aarón Sánchez
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3Then: Ina Garten
Robert Lachman//Getty ImagesBefore the Barefoot Contessa was even just a small, specialty food store on Long Island, Ina Garten was working on nuclear energy policy in the Carter-era White House. Her move from policy work to store owner would lead to long list of cookbooks, the first being published in 1999. She also started with a line of Barefoot Contessa Pantry products.
4Now: Ina Garten
NBC//Getty ImagesToday, Ina still stars on Barefoot Contessa, which premiered all the way back in 2002. Ina often invites celebs (like super fan Jennifer Garner) to join her for holiday specials on the show. Even with her monumental success, she still enjoys cooking for her husband Jeffery the most.
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5Then: Guy Fieri
Steve Jennings//Getty ImagesGuy certainly added some spice that the Food Network was lacking when he won the second season of The Next Food Network Star in 2006. Afterward, Guy landed a slew of shows, including Guy's Big Bite and the game-changing Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
6Now: Guy Fieri
Albert L. Ortega//Getty ImagesBetween his catch phrases and eccentric style, Guy has quickly become a fixture on the network. Today, he's holding down the fort on Guy's Grocery Games, building his Flavortown empire of 16 different restaurants, and enjoying life with his wife and kids in Santa Rosa, CA, as well as all across the USA in Guy's Family Road Trip.
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7Then: Aarti Sequeira
David Livingston//Getty ImagesYou may remember Aarti as the season 6 winner of The Next Food Network Star in 2011. That crown resulted in her very own show, Aarti Party, which lasted for three seasons and focused on Indian-inspired cuisine.
8Now: Aarti Sequeira
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9Then: Robert Irvine
Ray Mickshaw//Getty ImagesBefore starring in Restaurant: Impossible—which debuted on the Food Network in 2011 and served us five years and 13 seasons of delicious drama—Robert served in the Royal Navy, hosted Worst Cooks in America, and hosted Dinner: Impossible from 2007 to 2010.
10Now: Robert Irvine
Slaven Vlasic//Getty ImagesThe chef transitioned to daytime television in 2016, hosting The Robert Irvine Show for two seasons. After a three year hiatus from Restaurant: Impossible, the chef returned to it in 2019 with two new seasons—and he's currently filming season 16.
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11Then: Donatella Arpaia
Patrick McMullan//Getty ImagesAfter bursting onto the late '90s New York City restaurant scene with several successful restaurant ventures, it was only a matter of time until Donatella took the next step to food world domination. For her, that meant accepting the role as judge on Iron Chef America: The Series from 2005 to 2014 and Iron Chef America Countdown in 2012.
12Now: Donatella Arpaia
Ilya S. Savenok//Getty ImagesDonatella has shared her skills with numerous morning shows over the years and released a cookbook, Donatella Cooks: Simple Food Made Glamorous, in 2010. While running her restaurant Prova Pizzabar in New York City, she welcomed twins in 2018.
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13Then: Ree Drummond
Donna Svennevik//Getty ImagesThanks to her relatable and highly successful personal blog, The Pioneer Woman, Ree's career was already booming when she debuted her Food Network show The Pioneer Woman in 2011.
14Now: Ree Drummond
thepioneerwoman//InstagramSince joining the Food Network, Ree has published four cookbooks, a magazine, opened a store in her hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, launched a collection of Walmart kitchen products, and became an actual Barbie doll. And she's done all that while keeping up with her husband (a.k.a. Marlboro Man) and four kids who live and work on their family cattle ranch.
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15Then: Duff Goldman
Jamie McCarthy//Getty ImagesOut-of-the-box pastry chef Duff Goldman showed off his talents on Ace of Cakes, which went behind the scenes of his Baltimore bakery, Charm City Cakes. Since its run from 2006 through 2011, Duff has starred in another show, Duff Till Dawn, opened a shop in Los Angeles, written a book with his brother, lost a ton of weight, and taught Delish how to make the best chocolate cookies of all time.
16Now: Duff Goldman
Paul Archuleta//Getty ImagesDuff still appears on a few Food Network shows, like Buddy vs. Duff, but recently the happily married chef has been hard at work with his DIY dessert decorating shop, and we honestly can't wait to see what sweet stuff he gets up to next.
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17Then: Rachael Ray
Mathew Imaging//Getty ImagesRachael began teaching her now-iconic 30 minute meals in segments for her local news. It wasn't long before her bubbly personality and delicious recipes caught the eyes of the Food Network, leading to several shows, starting with $40 A Day back in 2002.
18Now: Rachael Ray
Gregg DeGuire//Getty ImagesIn addition to her lines of kitchen and food products, cookbooks, and magazine, Rachael has had two shows renewed in 2019. CBS is bringing her talk show Rachel Ray back for a 14th season, while the Food Network is reviving the segment that made her famous, 30 Minute Meals, as a digital series.
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19Then: Jeff Mauro
Donna Svennevik//Getty ImagesJeff Mauro knows sandwiches. As a kid, the "Sandwich King" started packing his own lunch ingredients and assembling his sandwiches at school to ensure perfection. After winning season 7 of Food Network Star in 2011, he landed a regular gig with a show of his own, The Sandwich King.
20Now: Jeff Mauro
Dave Kotinsky//Getty ImagesJeff now hosts The Kitchen alongside other Food Network stars, like Katie Lee and Geoffrey Zakarian, and is a frequent guest judge on other shows like Chopped. He's kept his roots in his native Chicago, where he has a hand in running the BBQ chain Pork and Mindy's.
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